Carriage return control means



Aug. 7, 1962 A. G. CHAMBERLAIN ETAL 3,048,252

CARRIAGE RETURN CONTROL MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1960 FIGJ INVENT0R5 AAYMO/VD E SEYMOUR BY erm/e a Cmmazeuw gmm M ,QrraE/VE) Aug. 7, 1962 A. G. CHAMBERLAIN ETAL 3,048,252

CARRIAGE RETURN CONTROL MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1960 FIGS w km 0 0 v, W W Z 4 f M 0 M m 6 MM u 4 g 3,048,252 CAAGE RETURN CUNTRQL MEANS Arthur G. Chamberlain, Cos Cob, and Raymond E. Seymour, Norwalk, Conn., assignors to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 55,500 9 Claims. (6]. 197-66) This invention relates generally to key operated recording mechanism having a carriage with associated carriage escapement and carriage returning mechanism, such as a typewriter or the like, the invention relating more particularly to means associated with the carriage return mechanism for locking up and preventing carriage return when the carriage is in a predetermined carriage escapement position. The invention has particular utility for machines of this class wherein a single dual function member or key is utilized for causing the machine to perform both the carriage return and the line space function. Such a dual function member in the form of a key has long been employed on various typewriting equipment including the Remington power operated typewriter disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,919,007 issued December 29, 1959, and in other United States patents referred to therein.

In certain forms of typing operations it is desirable to be able to line space the platen independently, without concurrently returning the carriage to the extreme left margin position. For example, when the format of the work being prepared calls for indentation of the first line of each new paragraph, extra line spacing of the platen when the carriage is at the appropriate indented location, as determined by a tab stop or otherwise, can not be accomplished except by returning the carriage to the extreme left margin position when the machine is provided with only a dual function carriage return-line space key. As another example, it is well known and understood that typewriters are frequently employed in a data processing system wherein each typing operation and function of the machine is encoded and recorded on a tape or other recording medium. In such systems it has been found useful to employ a predetermined number of carriage escapement positions at the beginning of each line for accomplishing special encoding and recording functions which are not represented on the hard copy being pre pared, with the result that the left margin of the typed matter as it appears on the hard copy does not correspond with the actual extreme left margin position of the carriage but rather is achieved by starting the typing line with the carriage in a position advanced somewhat from the extreme left margin position. When a machine is employed in this kind of work, depression of the dual function carriage return-line space key, when the carriage is in the escapement position for starting a line of typing, would result in carriage return and repeating the special encoding and recording functions accomplished in the aforesaid predetermined number of first carriage escapement positions. The instant invention provides means which locks up the carriage at a predetermined escapement position so that when in said escapement position, operation of the dual function carriage return-line space key will result only in a line spacing operation but will not return the carriage to its extreme left margin position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to enable in a machine of the class described separate control over dual functions accomplished normally by operation of a single dual function member.

It is a further object of the invention to enable a machine of the character described, having a dual function member for performing both carriage return and line spacing functions, to perform a line spacing function "ice without concurrently performing a carriage return function;

it is a further object of the invention to provide in a machine in the character described, having a dual function member for performing line spacing and carriage return operations, a carriage return lockout device which is positive acting, reliable in operation and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention together with the features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary View in perspective of mechanism controlled by a dual function carriage return-line spacing key of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the carriage return control rod and associated mechanism looking from the rear of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 through 7 are detail views of the carriage return lockout device showing the position of the parts under various operative conditions.

FIG. 1 illustrates fragmcntarily mechanism operated by depression of the carriage return-line space key 10. Depression of the key rocks key lever 11 which trips the key power mechanism 12 for one cycle of operation, the power mechanism including the usual continuously rotating power roll 13 cooperating with a cam 14 mounted on power arm 15. The power arm coacts with a lever 16 to which is tied a pull wire 17, the other end of the wire being suitably connected to one arm of a clutch control hell crank 18. Bell crank 18 is carried by a rock shaft 19 suitably journal-led in the frame of the machine, the opposite end of the shaft 19 carrying one arm. of a spring biased toggle mechanism 20, the other arm of which is pivoted to a lever 21 operable in response to toggle action for engaging and disengaging the carriage return clutch 2 2. The clutch is driven from a shaft 23 which is geared to the key action power roll 13 and operates to couple the power roll with a carriage return reel 24 upon which is wound a belt 25.

'lhe belt is drawn from reel 24 over suitable roller guides on the frame of the machine and is attached to a fulcrum lever 26 which is pivoted on the carriage escapement rack 27. Also connected to the lever 26 is a belt 28 which is drawn around a roller 29 suitably supported by the carriage to connect with the end of line space lever 31 pivotally mounted on the carriage of the machine.

The line space lever coacts with an upright arm 32 which supports the usual line space pawl 33 spring tensioned to engage the line space ratchet wheel 34 secured to the shaft supporting platen 35. Upon depression of the carriage return-line space key 10, the mechanism just described operates to trip the clutch toggle 20 engaging clutch 22 causing the carriage return reel 24 to be driven in a clockwise direction to take up the belt 25. The takeup of belt 25 pull-s on fulcrum lever 26 to rock it a limited extent which in turn pulls on belt 28 causing a rocking of the line space lever 31 and arm 32 and pawl 33 causing the line space ratchet wheel to be driven in a line spacing direction to line space the platen 35. This action occurs during the initial takeup movement of the belt 25, and after the lever 26 has reached its limit of movement the continued takeup by belt 25 is effective for drawing the frame of the carriage to the right, as shown in FIG. 1, in a carriage return direction until left margin stop means, hereinafter more fully described and mounted on the carriage, comes into contact with an abutment arm 41 mounted on a rockable carriage return control rod 42. The rod 42 is supported for limited rocking and also limited axial movement in brackets 43 secured to the rear frame of the machine, the arm 41 and rod 42 corresponding generally to the members 184, 186 in the aforesaid patent to F. W. Schremp, 2,919,007, issued December 29, 1959. During a carriage returning operation, engagement of the left margin stop means with the abutment arm 41, causes the rod 42 to shift a limited extent to the right, as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the end of rod 42 bears against a bell crank 44, one arm of the bell crank being connected by pull rod 45 with an arm of the aforesaid clutoh control bell crank 18. Rocking of the bell crank 44 at the completion of a carriage return operation pulls on the rod 45 and bell crank 18 operating the clutch toggle 20 in a clutch disengaging direction to thereby disengage the clutch and complete the carriage return operation. The carriage is now at the left margin position preparatory for movement in a letter spacing direction under control of the machine escapement mechanism in the Well known manner, the escapement mechanism in-- eluding a pinion 46 engaging the teeth of the escapement rack 27 and controlled by wheel 47 cooperating with escapement mechanism, not shown herein, but which may be of any well known design.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, these are plan and elevation views, respectively, looking from the rear of the machine, the arrow indicating the direction of letter spacing movement of the carriage. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the position of the carriage at the extreme left margin position at the end of a carriage return operation. Hereinafter, in this specification, this position of the carriage will be referred to as the extreme left margin position to distinguish from a normal left margin position as determined by the novel left margin stop means about to be described, which normal left margin position may be any number of letter space positions removed or advanced from the extreme left margin position and is determined in accordance with the position on the hard copy at which a line of typing is to be started. The extreme left margin position is determined by a stop member 48 in a form of a right angle arm secured to the carriage, the free end of the arm being in position to abut against the abutment arm 41 to thereby limit carriage return movement and disengage the carriage return clutch as heretofore described. It will be seen that movement of the carriage return control rod 42 to the right, as shown in FIG. 2, is resisted -by a compression spring 49 disposed between one of the brackets 43 and a rock arm 51 secured to the rod 42. Another spring 52 disposed between the other bracket 43 and a collar 53 secured to the rod 52 biases the rod to the left, the two springs 49 and 52 serving to balance the control rod 42 axially in a normalized position and permit-ting a limited amount of movement of the rod in either one direction or another depending upon whether the rod is actuated by the left margin or right margin stop mechanism of the machine. The rod 42 is also provided with a spring torque bias through the rock arm 51. A pin 54 mounted on the free end of said arm engages in the opening of an upright link 55, said link having a pin 55a to which is connected a spring 55b, the other end of said spring being suitably connected ot the frame of the machine. Since the arm 51 extends in a generally rearward direction, it will be seen that spring 55b operates or tends to rotate the arm 51 upwardly causing the rod 42 and arm 41 to be continuously urged in a forward direction, i.e. towards the front of the machine.

The special left margin stop means according to the present invention, for preventing carriage return from a normal left margin of the carriage, includes an adjustable block member 56, see also FIG. 1, the forward face of which is milled out to embrace and form a sliding fit with the carriage margin stop bar 57. The front and rear face of said block are also milled out in a Vertical direction to accommodate a depressible plunger member 58. Secured to the lower extremity of said plunger member are a plurality of teeth 59 designed to fit between the teeth of the margin stop bar 57. A compression spring 61 disposed between the upper surface of the plunger member and the body of the block member 56 urges the plunger upwardly whereupon teeth 59 engage with the bar 57 to lock the device in a selected position along the bar 57. Depression of the plunger 58, frees the teeth 59 from the bar permitting the device to be slid along the bar to any desired setting. Secured to the under surface of the block member 56 by screws 62, 63 is a horizontally disposed plate 64 the rearmost edge of which is cut away as shown to form a cam surface 65, a limit surface 66 and, spaced a predetermined distance therefrom, another cam surface 67 in addition to a further cam surface 63. Each of said cam surfaces and the limit surface are designed to coact with the abutment arm 41 mounted on the carriage return control rod 42 as aforesaid. Pivoted to the under side of plate 64 at 69 is a hold out pawl 71 biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 72 stretched between the pawl and a connection with the plate 64. Counterclockwise rotation of the pawl is limited by the tail portion '73 of the pawl engaging the head of the aforesaid screw 62. The side edge 74 of the pawl serves to define with limit surface 66 of the plate 64 a variable gap which under certain conditions permits receipt of the abutment arm 41 and which under other conditions prevents receipt of the arm 41 in the cutout area of the plate 64, whereupon the rearmost edge 75 of pawl 71 acts to hold out the abutment arm 41 to prevent it from dropping into the cutout area in the plate 64. As shown, the rear edge 75 of pawl 71 lies slightly to the rear of the rearmost portion of the cam surface 65, and when the pawl is its counterclockwise rotated position as shown in FIG. 2, the gap between the pawl edge 74 and limit surface 66 is insutlicient to accommodate the full width of the abutment arm 41.

FIGS. 2 and 4-6 illustrate the operation of the mechanism at various letter space positions of the carriage, FIG. 2 illustrating the extreme left margin position, and FIG. 4 illustrating the position of the parts as the carriage lies in the third letter space position from the extreme left margin position. FIG. 5 illustrates the fourth letter space position of the carriage, and FIG. 6 illustrates the position of the parts after typing has occurred at the fourth letter space position and the carriage has moved into the next or fifth letter space position. For purposes of the following description, it will be understood that the device has been set to establish the fourth letter space position of the carriage as the normal left margin, although it should be understood that the device could be set at any desired setting along the margin stop bar so as to establish any desired letter space position of the carriage as the normal left margin position for the carriage.

As shown in FIG. 4, as the carriage moves into the third letter space position, the cam surface 65 has urged the abutment arm 41 rearwardly, and the carriage has not yet advanced to the position wherein the arm 41 may drop into the cutout area of the plate 64. As the carriage moves into the fourth letter space position, i.e., the normal left margin position, which is the position shown in FIG. 5, the edge of the abutment arm 41 has engaged the side edge 74 of the pawl 71 causing the pawl to rock clockwise against the tension of spring 72 thereby opening up the gap between the pawl and the limit shoulder 66 enabling the abutment arm 41 to spring into the cutout area of plate 64, the arm 41 being biased in this direction by spring 57 as heretofore described. In the normal left margin position, as shown in FIG. 5, is the carriage return key of the machine were to be depressed the carriage would be urged to the left as shown in FIG. 5. However, since the arm 41 is now blocking carriage return movement by engagement with the limit surface 66, the only effect of a carriage return operation would be to line space the platen through mechanism heretofore described and result in a limited shifting to the left of arm 41 and control rod 42 against tension of spring 49 to cause the carriage return clutch to disengage. Accordingly, the

operator may depress the carriage return key for as many times as desired to achieve the desired amount of line spacing, but the carriage will be blocked from returning to the extreme left margin position and will remain in the normal left margin position.

From any position beyond the normal left margin escapement position, operation of the carriage return key will cause a carriage return and line spacing operation, returning the carriage to the extreme left margin position since when traveling in this direction, as shown in FIG. 7, the abutment arm 41 is held out by pawl 71 and unable to drop into the cutout area of the plate 64. It is only when the carriage letter spaces into the normal left margin position that the device operates to block carriage return to the extreme left margin position permitting line spacing to take place without concurrently returning the carnage.

Although the device has been disclosed in connection with a machine wherein a fixed or permanent stop is provided for determining the extreme left margin position, it should be understood that the device could also be utilized in conjunction with an adjustable left margin stop of conventional design for determining the extreme left margin position. Also, although the device has been shown in conjunction with a power operated typewriter having power driven carriage return mechanism, it should be understood that the device is operative in the same manner with machines which are not electrified or in which power is not utilized for returning the carriage.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is of course realized that various modifications and changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention as hereinbefore set forth and as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a data recording machine of the character described having a carriage mounted platen movable in one direction relative to the frame of the machine for letter spacing of a recording medium supported against said platen and movable in the opposite direction for return of the carriage to a margin setting, means mounted on said carriage for line spacing said platen, a dual function member operable for returning the carriage and for actuating said line spacing means, an abutment member supported on said machine frame for limiting carriage return movement, and means mounted on said carriage and cooperating with said abutment member when the carriage has letter spaced to a predetermined carriage escapement position to prevent carriage return from said predetermined escapement position, whereby operation of said dual function member results only in line spacing said platen when the carriage is in said predetermined position.

2. In a data recording machine of the character described having a carriage mounted platen movable in one direction relative to the frame of said machine for letter spacing of a recording medium supported against the platen and movable in the opposite direction for return of the carriage to a margin setting, means mounted on said carriage for line spacing said platen, a dual function member operable for returning said carriage and for actuating said line spacing means, an abutment member supported on said machine frame for limiting carriage return movement, means mounted on said carriage for engaging said abutment member when the carriage has letter spaced to a predetermined carriage escapement position to pre vent carriage return from said predetermined position, and a holdout member cooperating with said last mentioned means to prevent engagement of said abutment member with said last mentioned means when the carriage is moving in a carriage return direction.

3. In a data recording machine of the character described having a carriage mounted platen movable in one direction relative to the frame of the machine for letter spacing of a recording medium supported against the platen and movable in the opposite direction for return of the carriage to a margin setting, means mounted on said carriage for line spacing said platen, a dual function member operable for returning said carriage and for actuating said line spacing means, an abutment member supported on said machine frame for limiting carriage return movement, means mounted on said carriage and formed to define a limit surface to engage said abutment member when the carriage has been letter spaced to a predetermined carriage escapement position to prevent carriage return from said carriage escapement position, and a pawl member carried by said last mentioned means and coacting with said abutment member to permit engagement of said abutment member with said limit surface when the carriage has reached said predetermined escapement position in a letter spacing direction and to prevent said engagement when the carriage reaches said predetermined escapement position in a carriage return direction.

4. The invention according to claim 1 including a stop member secured to said carriage to engage said abutment member for defining an extreme margin setting for said carriage, and wherein said last mentioned means is mounted to cooperate with said abutment member at another carriage escapement position to define a normal margin setting for said carriage.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means is adjustably secured to said carriage along the direction of carriage travel and is settable to cooperate with said abutment member at any one of a plurality of carriage escapement positions.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means includes a member formed to define a limit surface engageable with said abutment member to prevent carriage return movement and includes means operable when the carriage is moving in a letter spacing direction to permit said engagement and effective when the carriage is moving in a carriage return direction to prevent said engagement.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means includes a member formed to define a limit surface engageable with said abutment member to prevent carriage return movement and includes a pawl member operable for permitting said engagement when the carriage reaches the predetermined escapement position in a letter spacing direction and for preventing said engagement when the carriage reaches said predetermined escapement position in a carriage return direction.

8. The invention according to claim 1 including power driven means for returning said carriage and actuating said line spacing means and wherein said dual function member comprises a key operable for coupling said power driven means to a source of driving power.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said coupling function is achieved by a clutch rendered effective by operation of said key and rendered ineffective by the load thrust upon said abutment member when engaging a limit surface of said means mounted on said carriage to prevent carriage return movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hart Oct. 17, 1933 

